Health insurance provider Equipsme has expanded its services to include elder care support to help members look after older relatives.
Equipsme's new service offering includes discounts on personal alarms and emergency resolution services recommended by Which?, as well as access to expert advice, guidance, and additional resources.
The elder care support feature integrates monitored devices linked to 24/7 response teams capable of addressing emergencies such as falls, medical incidents, or home intrusions, ensuring immediate notification of family members and emergency services if necessary.
The service also includes a range of benefits such as a 24/7 GP service, specialist support, physio sessions, and discounts on wellness activities. The most popular plan provides diagnosis and treatment benefits for £39 per month, with optional add-ons tailored to business needs, including dental, optical, and stress support services.
Through this new initiative, Equipsme says that it aims to address the challenges faced by the “sandwich generation” – individuals who find themselves caught between the demands of their careers, childcare, and the care of older family members.
According to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), there are over 5.7 million unpaid carers in the UK, a figure that some charitable organizations estimate might be nearly twice as high. Workplace impact is significant, with one in seven employees balancing job responsibilities with caregiving duties. The burden is particularly heavy on more senior employees, affecting one in four women and one in eight men.
“We're proud to be potentially the only group health provider that enables individuals to independently upgrade their plans, adding partners and children without increasing costs. Our aim is to extend our support to informal carers within our client base, acknowledging the complex challenges they face in balancing caregiving with other responsibilities,” managing director Matthew Reed (pictured) said.
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